Power Tools & General Tools Recommendations & Advice

gingergundog · 28 Jul 2023 at 21:04

Evolution mitre saws are decent, sold mine recently as it wasn't being used but would recomend. If I was buying again id get a cordless Dewalt as I have the batts.

Id rather use anything than a circular saw, always feel like they are one knot away from kicking back at me.

nst68 · 29 Jul 2023 at 20:18

I bought this Bosch drill driver from Screwfix, perfect for little jobs around the house.

and then managed to drop one of (lithium :eek:

) batteries in to a bucket of water!

jcr · 30 Jul 2023 at 13:33

nst68 said:
I bought this Bosch drill driver from Screwfix, perfect for little jobs around the house.

and then managed to drop one of (lithium ) batteries in to a bucket of water!

ive had one of these for years. my most used power tool. such a handy little thing.

rangor gubbins · 7 Aug 2023 at 07:57

I'm in the market for some new battery powered garden tools. Either milwaukee or dewalt.
Has anyone got any experience using the milwaukee quick-loc kit

Milwaukee M18FOPH-0 FUEL 18V Li-Ion RedLithium Brushless Cordless Power Head - Bare - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Delivers the capability to swap between multiple attachments to complete a wide range of applications while maintaining the flexible battery system working with all Milwaukee M18 batteries. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

Or the dewalt equivalent?

Bint Box · 7 Aug 2023 at 18:00

gingergundog said:
Evolution mitre saws are decent, sold mine recently as it wasn't being used but would recomend. If I was buying again id get a cordless Dewalt as I have the batts.

Id rather use anything than a circular saw, always feel like they are one knot away from kicking back at me.

Agreed, I bought an Evolution mitre saw from the Evolution Outlet on the auction site about 6 or 7 years ago and it is still going well.
It lives up to the claim of the blade being able to cut through steel, I have cut 5mm thick mild steel box section with it no problem.

For the money it has been great value.

Bint Box · 7 Aug 2023 at 18:05

What are members using and recommending for bench/pillar drills?

I have been trying to get an old Fobco or Meddings bench drill for quite a while but every example I have seen has either been in an awful state or expensive.
My current bench drill is an old Record, in very good condition and works OK but having tried out a Fobco they are different class altogether.

jaybee · 7 Aug 2023 at 18:11

Another vote for evolution chop saws or skill saws. I think I had less issues with my evo skill saw than my lovely brushless battery powered dewalt, but that's because the guide rail is **** on it where it can bend and move about with play. I really wish I had invested in the one that is track saw compatible. I don't have room for a table saw so when I have to cut straight lines I have to get the skill saw out and either faff about with mounting a straight edge to run up against and/or use the guide rail. All my other Dewalt lith ion stuff is amazing.

rangor gubbins · 7 Aug 2023 at 21:08

Manbatius said:
Hi all, another mitre saw recommendation, will be mainly used for skirting boards, they're tall at 19.5cm (7.67 inches)
I managed to get away without in one room, but the mitre box was not tall enough, there a few smaller diy tasks it would be swifter for also.

So my research tells me crosscut is key, I nearly got an Einhell inthe prime sales but a few reviews had the cover shattering after minimal use.

Evolution R210SMS+ 210mm Sliding Compound Mitre Saw (230V) - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk

So, I have been looking at the above, budget is £200.

I've got a dewalt 773 mitre saw, which I have found is excellent. Only one small gripe, which is my own fault because I bought the 773 model which doesn't have a shadow line, whereas the 774 does.

rangor gubbins · 7 Aug 2023 at 21:12

nst68 said:
I bought this Bosch drill driver from Screwfix, perfect for little jobs around the house.

and then managed to drop one of (lithium ) batteries in to a bucket of water!

I've got one of these. It's brilliant and I use it far more than any other tool.

Milwaukee M12 BDDX-202C 12V 2 x 2.0Ah Li-Ion RedLithium Cordless Drill Driver - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. High performance 4-pole motor which delivers up to 1500rpm for maximum productivity. RedLink overload protection and constant speed electronics deliver durability and performance. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

Bint Box · 9 Aug 2023 at 18:08

Bint Box said:
Agreed, I bought an Evolution mitre saw from the Evolution Outlet on the auction site about 6 or 7 years ago and it is still going well.
It lives up to the claim of the blade being able to cut through steel, I have cut 5mm thick mild steel box section with it no problem.

For the money it has been great value.

Just to add to the above, I also bought an Hitachi mitre saw from the auction site from a gentleman who was retiring and had been a tradesman of some description, I think he might even have been a carpenter. Needless to say, the Hitachi is a real beauty and had been very well looked after. It has a different feel about it compared to my Evolution, just feels more quality and generally an all round better saw. For quick jobs or cutting metal I pull out the Evolution, for more precision work I always use the Hitachi.

Similarly, I have an Hitachi orbital sander, again a nice tool with a better feel about it than my Parkside (LIDL) and Performance (B&Q) sanders.

Fireskull · 10 Aug 2023 at 10:29

rangor gubbins said:
I'm in the market for some new battery powered garden tools. Either milwaukee or dewalt.
Has anyone got any experience using the milwaukee quick-loc kit

Milwaukee M18FOPH-0 FUEL 18V Li-Ion RedLithium Brushless Cordless Power Head - Bare - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Delivers the capability to swap between multiple attachments to complete a wide range of applications while maintaining the flexible battery system working with all Milwaukee M18 batteries. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

Or the dewalt equivalent?

Heya, I have the Milwaukee quick-loc but only have the strimmer attachment currently, might as well buy from here and spend £30 more and get the strimmer head:
Milwaukee M18FOPHLTKIT-0 M18 Fuel Power Head Kit (Bare Unit) (powertoolmate.co.uk)

rangor gubbins · 11 Aug 2023 at 22:43

Fireskull said:
Heya, I have the Milwaukee quick-loc but only have the strimmer attachment currently, might as well buy from here and spend £30 more and get the strimmer head:
Milwaukee M18FOPHLTKIT-0 M18 Fuel Power Head Kit (Bare Unit) (powertoolmate.co.uk)

Good shout, thanks.
It's the hedge trimmer and pole chainsaw I really need but the strimmer will also be handy.

rangor gubbins · 11 Aug 2023 at 22:44

@Fireskull how do you find the strimmer and quiklok in general?

sx_turbo · 11 Aug 2023 at 22:51

rangor gubbins said:
I've got one of these. It's brilliant and I use it far more than any other tool.

Milwaukee M12 BDDX-202C 12V 2 x 2.0Ah Li-Ion RedLithium Cordless Drill Driver - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. High performance 4-pole motor which delivers up to 1500rpm for maximum productivity. RedLink overload protection and constant speed electronics deliver durability and performance. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

The Milwaukee 12v tools are excellent and the range of tools they do is quite expansive. Definitely the way forward if one wanted to increase their power tool collection to 1 brand to save the umpteen different types of batteries and chargers

Mysterae_ · 13 Aug 2023 at 14:37

Those of you that have a circular saw, is the blade right or left sided?

I'm looking at getting a circular saw to use in my next few projects but undecided if it should be left or right bladed. I'm right-handed and favouring the blade to be on the left side of the saw so that I can line up the blade and guide better but a lot of tradies prefer the blade on the right, which I find odd.

NickK · 13 Aug 2023 at 17:13

Mine is a JCB jobbie - I could have sworn the blade is on the left motor on the right

fish · 13 Aug 2023 at 17:38

mine is on the left, makita one

Reuben klang · 13 Aug 2023 at 19:26

Mysterae_ said:
Those of you that have a circular saw, is the blade right or left sided?

I'm looking at getting a circular saw to use in my next few projects but undecided if it should be left or right bladed. I'm right-handed and favouring the blade to be on the left side of the saw so that I can line up the blade and guide better but a lot of tradies prefer the blade on the right, which I find odd.

Doesn’t make any odds really as you’ll be using a track or a speed square.

fish · 13 Aug 2023 at 19:33

i have had good results also with a rip saw guide.

piggin · 13 Aug 2023 at 19:39

Mysterae_ said:
Those of you that have a circular saw, is the blade right or left sided?

I'm looking at getting a circular saw to use in my next few projects but undecided if it should be left or right bladed. I'm right-handed and favouring the blade to be on the left side of the saw so that I can line up the blade and guide better but a lot of tradies prefer the blade on the right, which I find odd.

I have bothe right & left handed saws for different jobs. However, most people who are right handed stand to the left of the blade so they can see where they are cutting.